Bamboo basket can’t carry water:

Before running for FIFA president, Chung Mong-joon should solve the
problem of subcontract workers in Hyundai Heavy Industries

SEOUL,
South Korea, Aug 16, 2015 – In-house subcontract
workers` union in HHI, Solidarity for Worker`s Health (SWH) and Park Won-seok, a
national congressman today held a press conference at the National Assembly, urging
that Chung Mong-joon should solve the problem of HHI`s in-house subcontract
workers before he runs for FIFA`s presidential election.

Worldwide, Chung Mong-joon is well known as a
former FIFA vice president. On the other hand, he is a powerful businessman as
well as a politician in Korea. Mr. Chung is the controlling shareholder of HHI,
one of the top ten chaebols in Korea
and the world`s biggest shipbuilder.

There have been several issues with regard
to subcontract workers in HHI; first, thirteen subcontract workers were killed
in their workplace, while working for HHI in 2014, and the death toll was highest
in recent years. It is believed that the recent increase of death is associated
with the “risk-outsourcing” policy of HHI. Second, since 2004 HHI has
obstructed activities of in-house subcontract worker`s labor union. Workers got
fired, simply because they had participated in union activities. Even now, it
is hard for the dismissed union activists to get a new job. Finally, HHI is
carrying out a large-scale restructuring by shutting down subcontracting
companies. There is a clue that HHI is substantially involved in the shutdown
of subcontracting companies. It is thought for HHI to choose a so-called “shut
down” policy rather than firing regular workers, which is restricted by the
labor code.

Subcontract workers and NGOs believe that
Chung Mong-joon is responsible for the issues, not only because he is a major shareholder,
but Mr. Chung, as an owner of the chaebol,
has a substantial power to exert influence on HHI. In this sense, subcontract
workers and NGOs are raising a question whether Chung Mong-joon is the right person
to address FIFA corruption scandals, to lead FIFA reform process and to ensure
that FIFA events uphold human rights standards.

At a press conference, Subcontract workers
and NGOs urged that before running for FIFA presidential election, Chung
Mong-joon should take following actions;

1)Order
to stop unfair labor practices to subcontract workers

2)Order
to stop the mass dismissal of subcontract workers in the name of “restructuring”

3)Take
measures to prevent workplace injuries to the great extent and to make such
measures public

Ha Chang-min, the representative of in-house
subcontract workers` union in HHI said that “if our demands are not met or
Chung Mong-joon does not reply to our demands, subcontract workers, in
solidarity with international NGOs and trade unions, are going to carry on an
international campaign against him”.

After the news conference, subcontract
workers are going to stage an anti-Chung Mong-joon performance at Gwang Hwa Moon
square.

<High resolution images of the news
conference and the performance are available from http://unsafehhi.org/category/resources/ >